[Dublin] Palestine and the Art of Resistance: An Exhibition and Lecture to commemorate International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Wednesday November 13, 2013 00:34 by IPSC - IPSC

To mark International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, on Friday 29th November the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign is proud to host a unique evening exploring how Palestinians and internationals use art as a method of both cultural and political resistance to Israeli occupation, apartheid and colonialism. The event will begin place at 7pm in The Pearse Centre (aka The Ireland Institute), 27 Pearse Street, Dublin 2 (map here - http://goo.gl/maps/VzLnF).

Exhibition – Handala and the Life and Work of Naji Al Ali: Introduced by his son Khalid

A selection of the work of Palestinian cartoonist Naji Al Ali (1938-1987).

Naji Al Ali, and his most famous creation the ten-year-old refugee child Handala, was a tribune of Palestinian people, especially the refugees, of which he himself was one. His work expressed the hopes, fears and frustrations of not just Palestinians, but the Arab masses as well. The Guardian once suggested that Al Ali was “the nearest thing there is to an Arab public opinion”.

In particular, Al-Ali created cartoons that depict the complexities of the plight of the Palestinians. These cartoons are still relevant today – indeed, many of them are so prescient they could be about events today rather than 30 or 40 years ago – and Handala, the refugee child who is present in every cartoon, remains a potent and omnipresent symbol of the struggle of the Palestinian people for freedom, justice, equality and self-determination. Naji Al Ali, who was assassinated in 1987 in a murder than remains unsolved, lives on through his work – and others’ adaptations of this work; today Handala can spotted everywhere from necklaces and t-shirts, to frequent appearances on the Israeli separation wall in Palestine.

For this event, we are honoured to have the exhibition introduced by Khalid Al Ali, Naji’s son, who will speak to us about his father’s life and work via a live video-link from the Middle East.

Lecture – Writing on the Wall: Street art as resistance and solidarity in Palestine

Maintaining our focus on art as a form of resistance, we are proud to have author William Parry to discuss street art and graffiti in Palestine. The presence of Israel’s illegal separation wall in many West Bank communities has given Palestinian and international artists access to what is, in effect, the world’s largest canvas. This canvas is used to convey messages of resistance and solidarity. Like the work of Naji Al Ali, the writing on the wall can be a barometer both of Palestinian public opinion, and of how the Israeli occupation is viewed internationally.

In 2010 Parry produced the book ‘Against the Wall: The Art of Resistance in Palestine’ which, alongside Palestinians, featured the work of renowned artists like Banksy, Ron English, and Blu. In October 2013 Parry again returned to the West Bank, bringing the acclaimed graffiti muralists How&Nosm along with him. Parry, who is also communications officer with Medical Aid for Palestine, will talk not only about his trips and experiences, but also about the intersection of art, resistance, solidarity… and hope.

Palestinian Music and food

Following the speakers, there will be some live music and traditional Palestinian food and other refreshments will be served while people have a chance to explore the exhibition and to mingle.

International Day of Solidarity With the Palestinian People

Every November 29th the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign organises an event to commemorate the UN’s International Day of Solidarity With the Palestinian People. Similar events occur all around world, and we are proud to be a part of the global movement of solidarity with the Palestinian people’s collective struggle for their human, national and democratic rights.